Broncos & NFL

Miami Dolphins incidents shine light on bullying, hazing

That's what they called them. In the Northglenn High School football locker room, some teammates would tackle a birthday boy. But it got out of hand last season, when a freshman was thrown hard to the floor by an upperclassman.

"As far as how serious or out-of-proportion it got, that was definitely the worst time," said Marcus Pando, who was a junior on the team last season.

The freshman ended up going to the administrators, and three players were suspended, Pando said. The freshman ended up transferring, although it's unclear whether this incident was the sole reason.

"When that happens, it's considered hazing," said Pando's teammate, Eddie Franco. "(As a team captain), it was my responsibility to let my team know it's not OK to do that anymore."

FILE - In this July 24, 2013 file photo, Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito (68) and tackle Jonathan Martin (71) stand on the field during an NFL football practice in Davie, Fla. (Lynne Sladky, Associated Press)

Bullying and hazing have forever been part of sports culture, but these issues have come to the forefront, with news that a Miami Dolphins player, lineman Jonathan Martin, quit the team because he had been mercilessly bullied by teammate Richie Incognito.

In a workplace or classroom setting, bullying is not allowed. In the sports world, however, there is a blurred line about what's considered initiating, or "toughening" a teammate, and what's just plain mean and wrong.

But, with an increased focus on the issue by area schools, as well as the Colorado High School Athletic Association, in addition to the headlines generated by the Dolphins debacle, perhaps bullying will lessen in locker rooms across the Front Range.

"Bullying goes from elementary school to adulthood, and it's scary," said Amy Ringo, a local mom whose fifth-grade son plays youth sports. "You don't always know how to handle it. And when your son comes to you and says he's getting picked on or bullied at school because he can't make baskets, or kids won't share the ball, it makes their self-esteem and confidence go down.

"There's this one kid who constantly goes after my son. He has it out for him. He's constantly tripping him or shooting the puck right at him. Four times he knocked him down, knocked the wind out of him. Now I understand that hockey is physical, but you can always tell when that certain kid is out there. My son has even said, 'Mom, I don't want to go to middle school because that kid goes there.' "

A complicated matter

The bullying issue can be complicated, as seen in Miami, where Martin seems to be getting as much criticism as Incognito. There is often a hierarchy within a team with the toughest and most-successful players at the top and the more-cerebral, quieter players at the bottom. It leads to a machismo culture that can be uncomfortable for those quieter players who just want to play — and not deal with the Richie Incognitos of the world.

On Wednesday, Broncos interim head coach Jack Del Rio addressed the Dolphins issue with his team. He preached to the players that it's important to speak up if there are any issues, and to reach out to any coach or teammate.

"If something is going on, let us help you," Del Rio said, explaining his message to his players. "We like to talk about being family, and we like to think we'd be helpful for a person struggling."

Martin didn't go to his coaches to discuss the bullying. Instead, he hit his breaking point and decided to quit football last week, giving up his dream in order to escape the wrath of his teammate. In the Broncos' locker room this week, some players said Martin should have fought back — he is, after all, a huge NFL offensive lineman — or at least tried to work things out.

"I don't think in this business you can be bullied," Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "It's hard for me to think of an issue that would keep you from leaving the team, unless it was something drastic."

What's fascinating about the Miami mess is the number of Dolphins players publicly standing up for Incognito, who has been dismissed from the team, and openly questioning Martin, who is seen nationally as a victim.

"(Martin) needs to stand up and be a man. I don't know why he's doing this," Dolphins offensive lineman Tyson Clabo was quoted as saying this week.

Time to talk it out

Del Rio's message to this team is similar to what high school administrators say. The best solution for a bullied player is to talk it out with a superior or a teammate.

In Boulder, University of Colorado linebacker Derrick Webb said occasionally a teammate will take out frustrations on another player in a scuffle, and in the football realm, some see it as a healthy way to work through an issue.

"There have been incidents where guys altogether stop guys from fighting — there have been also incidents where guys let each other go at it a little bit," Webb said. "But I've never seen a situation quite like the one happening in Miami."

Many area schools are proactive in teaching students about the perils of bullying and hazing. Northglenn, for instance, now shows a video to student-athletes, as do many other schools. And CHSAA recently launched a Positive Leadership Campaign to educate students about bullying. It was inspired by the Gill Foundation's "You Can Play" project that encourages students to welcome teammates regardless of sexual orientation.

"The philosophy expands beyond that," CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico said. "That's a universal message, not just a gay and lesbian message. ... Rather than give kids a list of dos and don'ts, you want them to understand that other kids are watching them. It's about teaching them to stand up for what's right. We believe most kids, given a chance to stand up, will do what's right."

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